STELVIO! To Lake Como Pt2: Wet Washing & flies in my icecream!

(continued from pt1)


At the top is a giant street of souvenir shops, so many people! So many overpriced things with "Stelvio" printed on them... I elected not to purchase the 75 Euro Stelvio Beer Stein (I died a little inside)...the 39 Euro tee wasnt bad...

Lunch devoured I was on the (my) downhill slop, everyone always sees the uphill portion when they google Stelvio pass, it features in Top Gear and shows the switchbacks that climb the Alps but the most amazing road is actually on the top / other side; the switchbacks look beautiful but as a road they're a bit boring to drive - this however, this was FUN!

Like a racetrack cut into the top of a mountain with snowy peaks rather than grandstands; ​

How can you not just be...happy here...!

The road is also so open and clear that you can see other vehicles coming FAR away, so you're free to apex the corners and use the whole road whenever you want!

Solid photos ensued!

Hitting the bottom of the mountain I was in need of fuel, and in need of coffee, but most importantly EVERYTHING was running flat, so I stopped for a quick break. This service station has to be in the running for most scenic 1 Euro coffee!

And after spending almost 3 months inundated by BMW GS fans I stumbled upon a set of Triumphs!

We had a great chat about their 1050 Tigers versus my 800 and trying to tour on a Daytona (which I have at home and had originally though about using). The reason for the unexpected influx of Triumphs? They all work for Triumph! Perhaps a factory tour will happen when I get back to the UK?


Descending the Alps I was on my way to the hotel for the night.

And where was I staying? Lake Como!

And with my washing done (but not dried...laundromats close at 10pm sharp!) I headed to bed, grabbing an ice cream on the way. Not sure if its the rubbish lining the streets or the temperature but there are flies EVERYWHERE...I'm pretty sure I consumed a few...

Tomorrow? Back to Switzerland, passes are open, bike has brakes, I have clean clothes...what could go wrong!